WHAT IS WASABI?

Wasabi is a rhizome (root vegetable) which naturally grows in clean swiftly running mountain streams or irrigated terraced fields. It has pungent spiciness. Fresh rhyzom is grated into paste just before serving for the best flavor. Widely marketed powdered or pasted wasabi is a mixture of Western horseradish and mustard. Frozen grated wasabi with longer shelf life is also produced.